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Groups to march for ecological conversion

QUEZON City, Oct. 3, 2015 – Climate advocates, ecological
ministers, students, members of religious congregations, and of
non-government organizations (NGOs) plan to hold a symbolic march on
Oct. 4 to Quezon Memorial Circle as a way of sending across the message
of ecological conversion.

“We want them [Filipinos] to be informed on the need for ecological
conversion right now. We should do something, and we will start in our
own homes. With that, we will make a difference,” said Br. Angelo Ace
Cortez, OFM, in an interview.

He shared participants seek to live out the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day will coincide with the march.

Walking together

“We want to show the Philippines and the entire world how walking
together can raise awareness on the environmental issues. This is also
preaching like St. Francis,” Cortez added.

According to him, the march is an initiative of the Ecological
Justice Interfaith Movement (EcoJIM) which is concretely responding to
the invitation of Pope Francis to care for which he calls “our common
home.”

“We would like to invite you and your group to join us in our march
for ecological justice. Let us make this as our way of expressing our
gratitude to the Holy Father for Laudato Si’ and for visiting the
Philippines when we ourselves have suffered the effect of climate change
due to Typhoon Yolanda,” said Cortez, who also serves as EcoJIM’s
coordinator for National Capital Region (NCR), in an earlier report.

4 elements

The Franciscan brother shared participants are expected to assemble
in four designated areas in Quezon City by 5:30 a.m. represented by the
four traditional elements: air for emissions and air quality, fire for
energy issues, water for water rights, and earth for land use issues.

Masses are to be celebrated concurrently in different assembly points starting at 6:00 a.m.Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Phillipines – National Secretariat for Social Action,
Justice, and Peace (CBCP – NASSA), confirmed he will preside over the
Eucharistic celebration at the Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice, University
of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman.

All participants are to converge later at the Quezon Memorial Circle at 8:00 a.m..The assembly points for the eco-walk and the contact person in each are as follows: